Carrie Ahern Wisconsin native, is an independent dance and performance artist who has been based in New York City since 1995. She worked primarily as a freelance performer/choreographer for over a dozen dance and theater companies until forming Carrie Ahern Dance in 2005.more >

Born in Oakland, CA, Anne Hege (composer,performer) began her musical studies singing with the Piedmont Children’s Choir and the Oakland Youth Chorus. Formative projects with innovators Keith Terry and Linda Tillery inspired her multimedia leanings. Currently, she performs original works in her performance duos, New Prosthetics and Sidecar, as well as in the vocal trio, Celestial Mechanics while working on her doctorate in music composition at Princeton University. Her latest work lies somewhere between ritual, music, and theater with some homemade instruments thrown in for good measure. www.annehege.com

back ^

Donna Costello is a dance artist focused on performing and teaching, and the findings each brings to the other. She is a founding member of Shannon Hummel/Cora Dance and has built rich relationships creating and dancing for jill sigman/thinkdance, Mollie O'Brien/ mob productions and Jimena Paz. Ms. Costello has a diverse background and has had the pleasure of working with an inspiring group of choreographers over the past years including: Stephan Koplowitz, Barbara Mahler, Juliette Mapp, Naomi Goldberg Haas, Melissa Briggs, Pele Bauch, Kelly Bartnik and others. Ms. Costello choreographed Flying Fig Theater Company's production of Shirtwaist for the NYC fringe and has collaborated on works with fellow dance artist Laura Hymers. She has appeared in dance video work by GKI productions and Anna Brady Nuse. Ms. Costello has been on faculty at Queensborough Commmunity College, Poly Prep Country Day School, and in residence with Cora Dance and jill sigman/thinkdance.  She is currently a teaching artist for Lincoln Center Institute, Brooklyn Arts Exchange and Dance New Amsterdam.  She began dancing for Carrie Ahern in June 2009.

back ^

David Figueroa began performing as a child on the streets of Milwaukee, WI as a mime. He danced in New York for numerous choreographers including Sally Silvers, Yoshiko Chuma and the School of Hard Knocks, Douglas Dunn, Bill Young and Dancers, Allison Green, Meredith Monk and Jaime Ortega. His own work has performed throughout the Midwest, at the Painted Bride Arts Center in Philadelphia as well as in New York at P.S. 122, the Judson Memorial Church, and Dixon Place. While living in Provincetown, MA, he began MOVEMENT ARTS, a non-profit dance, movement and wellness center. David currently teaches public and private yoga classes throughout Brooklyn and Manhattan.
www.myspace.com/davidfig

back ^

Kelly Hayes grew up outside of Chicago and has a BFA in Dance from the University of Iowa. Hayes is Co-Artistic Director, with collaborator Katy Orthwein, of RedShift Dance www.redshiftdance.com, whose work has been shown nationally. In addition to working with Carrie Ahern, Hayes has recently performed with Dixie Fun Dance Theatre and the incomparable cast of Conni's Avant Garde Restaurant www.avantgarderestaurant.com. Recent theatre collaborations include As You Like It for the Stonington Opera House in Maine, and Measure for Measure and The 365 days/ 365 plays Festival with blessed unrest.

back ^

A Syracuse native, Jillian Hollis graduated from Point Park University with a degree in dance. Her studies included concentration in jazz, contemporary jazz, modern and ballet.  Since moving to New York City in 2002, Hollis has worked for a variety of choreographers. She is a member of Heidi Latsky Dance, Incidents Physical Theater headed by Edward Winslow and Christina Briggs, Rocha Dance Theater and has danced for Heather Harrington. Hollis has performed in burlesque and cabaret venues throughout NYC. She is a proud member of Jenny Rocha's 'Painted Ladies' who will be performing at LaMama Theater in May with the band 'The Woes'. This is Jillian's first full length project with Carrie Ahern. She is excited to be a part of the world Carrie is creating. Thank you for pushing me to the extreme and allowing me to lose myself in your creation.

back ^

Naoko Nagata started her career as a biochemist in Japan. Her evolution into costume making is a long story. With literally no formal training, Nagata's first costume was created for Jeanine Durning in 1998. From that moment, she has been creating nonstop for a diverse group of choreographers and dancers non-stop. She has collaborated with David Dorfman Dance, Bebe Miller, Liz Lerman, David Neumann, Gina Gibney, Nina Winthrop and many, many others. Working closely with collaborators, Naoko helps bring to life what she herself calls, "The creation of a shared dream." Currently she is working with Reggie Wilson for his upcoming show at DTW.

back ^

Jay Ryan (Lighting) is originally from Richmond, Va. After designing lights for one too many Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals he moved to NYC. Jay was Technical Director/Resident Lighting Designer/Director of Technology at Dance Theater Workshop (DTW) for 10 years. While at DTW he designed lights for 100’s of dance pieces and developed the Dance and Technology initiative. Currently he is pursuing his MFA in Costume/Set/ Lighting Design and CUNY Brooklyn. In NY He has had the pleasure to work with many wonderful people; Daniel Safer/Witness Relocation, Anne B. Parsons/Big Dance Theater, H.T. Chen, Chris Aiken, Karl Anderson, Safer/Secrest, Fiona Marcotty, Nami Yamamoto, Jeanine Durning, Sally Silvers, American Spanish Dance Theater, John Jasperse, David Parker/The Bang Group, The Elementals and many others

back ^